Poultry Farmer Charged With Animal Cruelty Skips Court Date

DANIELSON — — A poultry farmer charged with animal cruelty earlier this month was re-arrested Thursday for failure to appear, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture officials seized 2,551 chickens and two ducks from Sunrise Farm, a Brooklyn operation run by Tang Quan "Jason" Lin, on Jan. 6.

Following the seizure Lin, 36, of Milford, Mass. was charged with seven counts of cruelty to animals and released. Lin was scheduled to appear in court in Danielson on Jan. 20.

After Lin failed show up for his arraignment Thursday, police obtained a re-arrest warrant and took him back into custody the same day, according to officials. He was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court in Danielson on Feb. 3.

"The health and welfare of all domestic animals need to be protected … this type of operation does not reflect in any way the good animal husbandry practices of the Connecticut farming industry," said Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky in a statement.